My PhD in biomedical science is due to start in October. Does anyone have any idea how many hours per week one is expected to work. I am hoping to lengthen my days so I only have to work 4 per week so I can eventually commute rather than live on campus. Trouble is the labs are only open between 8am - 6pm. Anyone know if 4 day weeks are possible?

Well, quite often you'll be given keys to the building and the labs that you need to use so you can work all night if you need to, you just have to sign in. That's what they did for me on my degree project. It really depends on what you're doing though. Treat it like a full time job. If you have something to do, spend as much time as you need (Eevn if it does mean working til 10PM) if you've got nothing to do, hang around and look like you're doing something

Well- taht will depend on your supervisor. No lab I've ever been to ever closes. The porter goes at 5 in my lab, but we've got people who work untill midnight. So one you have started your PhD you will have a key to let yourself in and out. You may not be allowed to do certain types of experiments after 6, for example work with radioactivity.

My contract states that I am allowed to work 7 days a week 24h a day (by the way, my contract also states that I should work 7,5 h a day). I normally come in at 10am and stay untill 8pm, but my supervisor has a slight problem with this and would like me to come in at 9 am.

Oh- and I disagree with Lewis: If you have nothing to do then read through the literature!

Or go online and discover the wonders of the web!

E-mail is always good!

Personally I prefer two day weeks

DJ- but we can't all be so wicked, non?